Combination valve and vent for plumbing fixtures



J. G. CEKAL 2,096,344

COMBINATION VALVE AND VENT FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES- Oct. 26, 1937;

Filed Aug. 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllllll l J. G. CEKAL Oct. 1937.

COMBINATION VALVE AND VENT FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES Filed Aug. 9, 1934' 2Sheets-Sheet 2 w z J 3 7 r J Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED" STATESCOMBINATION VALVE AND VENT FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES James G. Cekal,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Crane 60., Chicago, 11]., a corporation ofIllinois Application August 9, 1934, Serial No. 739,093

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in devices to be used incombination with the flushing of such fixtures as, for example, watercloset bowls, urinals, and the like.

More particularly it relates to a combined valve and vent for use with awater control device as,

for example, a flushing valve in which my invention permits anexceedingly large size air vent to be used to prevent back siphonage. Atthe same time, it prevents the objectionable spitting" caused by thequick and sudden flow through said device ordinarily resulting inleakage outwardly into the atmosphere. This latter action is commonlyreferred to by the trade as spitting of the valve, and is veryobjectionable in being unsanitary.

Another important advantage lies in providing for a device which offersa minimum of resistance to the flow of water to the fixture to beflushed, in that, in no way does my device interfere with the normalflow of water as discharged from the control flushing valve or othercontrol means.

A further advantage is that my device is normally open to theatmosphere; that is, a direct communication exists between theatmosphere and the interior of the device. This is a desirable feature,in that, no part is required to move in order to admit the'atmosphereinto the device, when a vacuum is created therein.

In general, heretofore, the use of small vacuum breakers has beenobjectionable because of the inadequacy or relatively small capacity ofthe air vent size used. I

In addition, those previously furnished with a generous capacity of airvent have been objectionable in that escape of water to atmosphereoccurred when water flowed through the device.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent uponreading of the description as disclosed in the patent drawings, in whichFig. 1 shows one of the many conventional installations in which thedevice of my invention identified by the numeral 2 in the drawings isattached to the downstream or discharge side of the flushing valve 1 Ior any similar water control means and leading into a discharge pipe Ifor the purpose of flushing the bowl I0.

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of myinvention.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing a preferredvent port arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing a preferredguide means for the float, and in addition accomplishing adequateVenting clearance.

Fig. 5 is a sectional assembly view of another preferred form of mydevice hereinafter identified as the offset type, in which the valveportion is placed off to one side of the normal line of flow within thevertical tubing and leaving the water to flow unrestricted into thefixture to be flushed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modification of a vent float or discsuitably designed to permit buoyancy when made from such materialshaving a relatively higher specific gravity than cork, as for example,certain compositions, rubber, wood, and the like, having a relativelylarge air space 3e for facilitating greater buoyancy.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the discharge tubing l is shown forillustrative purposes only as being flared as at 2 thus forming casingto contain the float 3, preferably ade of cork or other light, buoyantmaterials, the float 3 being preferably loosely guided on either itsinner or outer peripheries. The inner guiding is preferably accomplishedby means of the guide ribs 3a, which assure uniform clearances so as toprovide proper areas 30 (see Fig. 4) between the outside diameter of thetubing 6 and the inside diameter of float, also between outside diameterof float 3 and inside diameter of easing 2.

Guide ribs 3a also serve to guide float 3 to the seat lilo. The guideribs 3a are so arranged on float 3 so as to allow sufficient distancebetween the underside of float 3 and baiiie 2a to provide enough areafor venting. Such clearances around the float allow suflicient volume soas to permit substantially unrestricted venting completely around theaforesaid float. Therefore, in the normal position as shown in Fig. 2,the float 3 being supported by the guide ribs 311 rests upon the baflle2a so that an annular opening or space is created above the baffleperforations 21) directly around-and centrally under the float 3.

For purpose of maintaining a tight seat the fioat 3 is preferablyprovided with a facing material 4, which may be made readily renewableof such material so as to be specially adaptable for certain servicesalthough the latter provision is not absolutely necessary, but obviouslydepends upon the nature of the float material used. At the upper end ofthe flared portion 2 and preferably loosely surrounding the tube 6, abell-shaped shield 5 with a curved surface 5b venting exteriorly ispositioned so as to rest upon a plate It by. means of equally spacedlugs 50 forming the annular clearance 5a.. The plate I is preferablythreadedly attached to the housing 2 by means of the threads d and asshown more clearly in F18. 3.

The plate It) is provided with arcuately extending ports Illa of suchform and size as to permit the suflicient entrance of the outsideatmosphere in the event that a vacuum within the device is created. Thetubing 6 is shown sweated or otherwise connected to cap in as shown atillb to provide a leak proof Joint. It is obvious that tubing 6 couldalso be made integral with plate I0. It is preferred that the port I ofthe tubing 6 be of the same internal diameter as the smaller part I ofthe flared housing 2 and which forms the piping as a direct connectionto the fixture to be flushed thus tending to induce unbroken flow of theflushing discharge.

The union ring 8 -is threadedly attached to the lower enlarged portion 9of the flush valve H by means of the threads 9a, the discharge tubing 6extending upwardly into the port i la of the flush valve I i or similarflush control means.

In describing a typical operation of my device, let it be supposed thatthe valve II is normally flushing. During such operation, the water inlarge volume flowing downwardly will lift the float 3 to its seat lilo,thus preventing escape of water or spitting" of the valve.

Should the fluid level within the housing 2 drop by a reason of backsiphonage occurring or the normal downward flow ceases, obviously thebuoyant float 3 will again fall back to its normal position resting uponthe bailie 2a, thus again opening the ports lfla and permitting theentry of air from the outside atmosphere through the respectiveclearances 30 and past the underside of the float 3 entering theperforations 2b to destroy the vacuum. It will thus be apparent that mydevice is a sensitively operating arrangement, responsive to theslightest changes in conditions of flow.

Referring to Fig. 5, applying to a structural modification, the casingI2 is preferably attached as at l3 by sweated connections to the dividedtubing I. The latter tubing at its upper portion is preferably made witha lower extending biased portion ll tending to direct the flow of wateruninterruptedly downward rather than to impinge against the side of thevalve casing I2, and induce the buoyancy to occur immediately under thefloat 3, rather than around it. The latter casing is provided with anopening l5, which is preferably sufllciently large in its size to allowfor the area of 1" pipe or more. On its inner edge the opening I5 isprovided with a seat l6 adapted for complementary engagement with thefacing 4 of the float, which is preferably of cylindrical shape in itsstructure, and being of a comparatively soft material is preferably madewith an insert guide member I! adapted for a loose guiding fit on thevertical extending pin I8 of the cap IS. The latter is preferablythreadedly attached to the casing H by means of the threads l9a,although the attachment may be by any suitable means.

From the detailed description above given, it is evident that myinvention is capable of numerous modifications and any desiredproportion of parts may be used. I, therefore, desire. to be limitedonly to the extent of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an atmospheric vent for the supply to plumbing fixtures having aninlet and an outlet in substantial axial alignment, comprising incombination a centrally positioned discharge tubing providingunrestricted passage to said outlet, a housing surrounding a portion ofthe exterior of said discharge tubing, a ported cap in communicationwith the atmosphere transversely positioned in leak-proof relationbetween the said tubing and the interior of the said housing, a floatwithin said housing adapted for leak-proof engagement with the said cap,a bailie peripherally arranged within the said housing, the said floatbeing normally positioned intermediate the said baille and the said capand annularly surrounding the said tubing, whereby during normal flow,the

said outlet is in free access to the atmosphere.

2. In an atmospheric vent for the supply to plumbing fixtures having aninlet and an outlet in substantial axial alignment, comprising incombination a centrally positioned discharge tubing providing forunidirectional flow to said outlet, a housing surrounding a portion ofthe exterior of said discharge tubing, a ported cap in communicationwith the atmosphere transversely positioned in leak-proof relationbetween the said tubing and the interior of the said housing, a floatwithin said housing adapted for leak-proof engagement with the ports ofthe said cap, a bafile peripherally arranged within a lower portion ofsaid housing, the said float annularly contacting with the said tubingand being normally positioned intermediate the said baffle and the saidcap, the said float being supported by the said baille.

3. In an'atmospheric vent for the supply to plumbing fixtures having aninlet and an outlet in substantial axial alignment, comprising incombination a centrally positioned discharge tubing providing forunidirectional flow to said outlet, a housing surrounding a portion ofthe exterior of said discharge tubing, a ported cap transverselypositioned in leak-proof relation between said discharge tubing and theinterior of said housing, a shield superposed over said cap, a floatwithin said housing adapted for leak-proof engagement with the said cap,a baflie peripherally arranged within a lower portion of said housing,the said float being normally positioned intermediate the said bailleand the said cap, whereby upon occurrence of back flow the said floatwill close off said ports.

4. In an atmospheric vent for the supply to plumbing fixtures having aninlet and an outlet in substantial axial alignment, comprising incombination a centrally positioned discharge tubing between said inletand outlet, a housing surrounding a portion of the exterior of saiddischarge tubing, a shielded cap transversely positioned in leak-proofrelation between said discharge tubing and the interior of said housingand providedwith openings in communication with the atmosphere, a floatwithin said housing adapted for leak-proof engagement with the said cap,a baflle annularly positioned within said housing, the said float beingnormally supported by the said baflle intermediate the latter and thesaid cap and annularly guided by the said tubing.

5. In an atmospheric. vent for a supply to plumbing fixtures having aninlet and an outlet in axial alignment, a centrally positioned dischargetubing providing unrestricted passage from said inlet to said outlet, ahousing surrounding a portion of the said discharge tubing, the interiorof the latter being in communication with a ported vent having access toatmosphere, a float within said housing adapted for leak-proofengagement with the said vent upon upward vertical movement thereofoccasioned by the occurrence of back flow or the creation of a vacuumtherewithin, the said float being so positioned within the said housingas to permit simultaneous venting to atmosphere of both the said inletand outlet.

6. In an atmospheric vent for a supply to plumbing fixtures having aninlet and an outlet in axial alignment, a centrally positioned dischargetubing providing unrestricted passage from said inlet to said outlet, ahousing surrounding a portion of the said discharge tubing, the interiorof the latter being in communication with a ported vent having access toatmosphere, a float within said housing adapted for leak-proofengagement with the said vent upon upward vertical movement thereofoccasioned by the occurrence of back flow or the creation of a vacuumtherewithin, the said float being so positioned within the said housingas to permit simultaneous venting to atmosphere of both the said inletand outlet, central guide means for the said float and supporting thelatter so as to render it readily buoyant.

'7. In an atmospheric vent for a supply to plumbing fixtures having aninlet and an outlet in axial alignment, a centrally positioned dischargetubing providing unrestricted passage from said inlet to said outlet, 9.housing surrounding a portion of the said discharge tubing, the interiorof the latter being in communication with a ported vent having access toatmosphere, a float within said housing adapted for leak-proofengagement with the said vent upon upward vertical movement thereofoccasioned by the occurrence of back flow or the creation of a vacuumtherewithin, the said float being so positioned within the said housingas to permit simultaneous venting to atmosphere of both the said inletand outlet, annular guide means for the said float providing for anannular space beneath the lower face of the latter so as to render itreadily buoyant upon back flow or the accumulation of liquidstherewithin. JAMES G. CEKAL.

